Geranium plant named ‘Grafire’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  geranium  plant named ‘Grafire’ particularly characterized by the combined features of brilliant red, star-shaped, single-type flowers; numerous, umbrella-shaped inflorescences, well above the foliage; medium sized, green, fan-shaped leaves with strong zonation; medium sized, rounded and well-branched plant habit; an beginning of flowering in mid season with continuous flowering.

Genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier(hybrid).

Variety denomination: ‘Grafire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Grafire’.

‘Grafire’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new stellar-type germanium cultivars in variousflower colors, in combination with early flowering, zoned foliage, andabout medium sized, rounded and well-branched plant habit.

‘Grafire’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor, AngelikaUtecht, in a controlled breeding program in Hellscheid, Germany, in1999. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid plant, no. 88-380-1,having small, red single-type flowers, medium green foliage withdistinct zonation, and relatively compact plant habit. The male parentof ‘Grafire’ was the unpatented commercial variety ‘Vectis Glitter’,with single-type, white flowers with irregularly spread small red dotsor fine stripes, large inflorescences, and vigorous growth habit.

‘Grafire’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross by Angelika Utecht in 2000 in a controlled environment inFuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Grafire’ was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the fall of2000 in a controlled environment in Fuerteventura, Spain, by, or underthe supervision of, Angelika Utecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May of 2001, in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Grafire’ are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Grafire’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Grafire’ in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. brillant red, single-type flowers;    -   2. medium sized, umbrella-shaped inflorescences, well above the        foliage;    -   3. medium sized, fan-shaped leaves with strong zonation;    -   4. medium sized and well-branched plant habit; and    -   5. beginning of flowering in mid season.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Grafire’ are the patented variety ‘Fiwoscarl’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,303) and the unpatented variety ‘Red Flash’,also known by breeder's ref. KLEP01002.

In comparison to ‘Fiwoscarl’, ‘Grafire’ has similar flower size andcolor, but roughly semi-circular leaf blades whereas the leaves of‘Fiwoscarl’ are kidney-shaped. Further, the plant habit of ‘Fiwoscarl’is generally taller and with a higher foliage canopy than ‘Grafire’.

In comparison to ‘Red Flash’, with numerous small inflorescence, andcompact plant habit, ‘Grafire’ has larger and flatter shaped umbels,foliage with less strong zonation, and taller, medium sized, planthabit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Grafire’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a side viewperspective of a flowering potted plant of ‘Grafire’ with leaves, budsand inflorescences.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, in mid May, 11 weeksafter planting of rooted cuttings. The plants were growing in 14 cmpots, they had not been pinched.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedindoors from plants growing in a green-house in May 2003 in Hillscheid,Germany.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Male parent.—‘Vectis Glitter’, unpatented commercial            variety.        -   Female parent.—Unpatented, hybrid plant no. 88-380-1.-   Classification: Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier (hybrid).-   Propagation: Vegetative cuttings.-   Inflorescence:-   Umbel:    -   -   Shape.—Umbrella-shape.        -   Average diameter.—83 mm.        -   Average depth.—45 mm.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—20-25.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—159 mm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—3-4 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—Light grey-red, RHS 179 B, lower part            yellow-green, RHS 144 B.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Pedicel length.—25 mm in length, usually with a spur.        -   Pedicel diameter.—1.5 to 2 mm.        -   Pedicel color.—Most parts grey-red infused, RHS 180 B, near            the base yellow-green, RHS 152 D.-   Corolla:    -   -   Average diameter.—40 mm.        -   Depth.—6 mm.        -   Form.—Single-type.        -   Shape.—Star-shape, with the 2 upper petals narrower than the            lower petals.        -   Number of petaloids.—None.-   Petals:    -   -   Number of petals.—5.        -   Shape of petals.—Upper petals narrow elliptical, lower            petals rhomboid, with acute base and acuminate tips.        -   Size of petals.—Upper petals: 22 mm long, 8 mm wide; lower            petals: 20 mm long, 10 mm wide.        -   Margin of petals.—Upper petals: lower and middle part            entire, dentate near the tip; lower petals: slightly crenate            towards the tip, basal part entire.        -   Color (general tonality from a distance of three            meters).—Red.        -   Color of upper petals.—Red, RHS 44 A.        -   Markings of upper petals.—No distinct markings.        -   Color of lower petals.—Red, RHS 44 A.        -   Markings of lower petals.—None.        -   Color of lower surface of petals.—Red, RHS 41 A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Color of sepals.—Outer surface: yellow-green, RHS 144 B;            inner surface: yellow-green, RHS 144 B.        -   Number of sepals.—5.        -   Shape of sepals.—Ensiform, acute tip, fused base, surface            with very short pubescence, margin entire.        -   Size of sepals.—9-10 mm long, 3 mm wide for the largest            upper sepal, 2 mm in width for the other sepals.-   Bud (just prior to petals unfolding):    -   -   Shape.—Narrow, elliptical.        -   Color of sepals.—Yellow-green, RHS 144 B.        -   Color of petals.—Red, RHS 45 B.        -   Length.—13-14 mm.        -   Width.—6 mm.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium: 5 fertile anthers, moderate pollen, orange-red, RHS 30    A, filaments white, RHS 155 D, to light-pink, RHS 52 D.-   Gynoecium: One pistil, whitish style, RHS 155 D to red-purple, RHS    65 D, stigma 5-6-lobed and pink, RHS 50 A, in color.-   Fertility/seed set: No seed set observed.-   Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2003    plants had on average 0.8 flowers opened 9 weeks after planting of    rooted cuttings.-   Outdoor flower production: Continuously and rich flowering, the    flower count in 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated about 20    inflorescences per plant in late summer.-   Durability: Good stability of flower color, no fading, fair rain    resistance.-   Lastingness of the individual flower: About 7-8 days at 18° C.,    about 16 days for the umbel.-   Fragrance: None.-   Plant:-   Foliage:    -   -   Shape.—Roughly semi-circular to flabellate, apex rounded            with distinct lobes, base truncate to obtuse.        -   Margin.—Tips of lobes dentate, base entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface smooth, dull.        -   Size of leaf.—87 mm wide, 50 mm long.        -   Color of upper surface.—Green, approximately RHS 143 B.        -   Color of zonation.—Strong, brown (greyed-orange), about RHS            166 A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Green, RHS 143 B to 143 C.        -   Petioles.—65-75 mm long, 2.0-2.5 mm diameter, light green in            color, approximately RHS 143 B.-   General appearance and form:    -   -   Stem color.—Mainly light green, RHS 143 C; in places            slightly grayish-red infused, RHS 179 B.        -   Internode length.—15-25 mm.        -   Branching pattern.—12 branches.        -   Size of plants.—Height: 15.3 cm, Spread: 27.3 cm            (11-week-old plants, as described, measured from the top of            the soil (base of the main stem) to the surface of the            foliage canopy, without inflorescences).

1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Grafire’, asdescribed and illustrated herein.